Spring structure



Feb. 28, 1939.

J. PLEET 2,148,961

SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 8, 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jo/m Pleat.

INVEN OR w m 925M160.

HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1939. J. PLEET 2,148,961

SPR ING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 8, 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE SPRING STRUCTURE John Fleet, Chicago, Ill. Application February 8, 1937, Serial No. 124,744

, 3Claims.

.back embodying my invention;

Fig. .2 is a fragmentary view of the back frame illustrating the spring;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the spring elements;

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spring anchoring element; I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a difierent form of spring mounting for a chair seat;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a seat'back illustrating a difierent form of spring; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the frame structure illustrated in Fig. 6 with the upholstery removed for the sake of clearness.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I make use of a back frame III which may comprise vertical reaches l2 and horizontal reaches l4. To the reaches 14 I connect resilient runners I 6, only one of which is illustrated in Figs. l and 2. All the runners are identical in construction. Suitable padding and upholstery l6 may be associated with the runners and attached to the frame of the back in any suitable manner as by tacks 26.

The rimner [6 comprises a plurality of spring units 22, the lower of which is connected with a link 24 which in turn is connected with an anchoring, element 26 fixedly connected with the lower reach l4 by screws 26. The upper spring unit 22 is connected with a resilient anchoring element 30 fastened to the upper reach i4 by screws 32..

Fig. 4 illustrates the specific construction of the resilient element 30. This element comprises a single piece of wire bent to provide spaced parallel reaches 34 and a bight 36. The reaches 34 are bent to provide convolutions 38 and loops 40 for the reception of the screws 32. I bend the reaches 34 to provide hooks 42 which are pivotally connected with the transverse reach 44 of the adjacent spring unit 22. The hooks 42 fit snugly inside the reaches 46 of the spring unit 22.

Referring to Fig. 3, one of the reaches 46 is bent back upon itself at 46 to provide a hook 56 and the remaining portion of that end of the wire is bent to provide a coil 52. The other reach 46 is bent back upon itself at 54 to provide a hook 66 and the end of the wire is bent about the lower convolution 56 of the coil 62. Books 66 and 66 are pivotally connected with the transverse reach 44 of the adjacent spring unit 22.

The link 24 is pivotally connected with the hooks 50 and 56 of the lower spring unit 22 and is also pivotally connected with the hooks 66 of 5 the anchoring element 26. It will thus be seen that the spring units 22 are pivotally connected together and that the runners l6 may be made up in various lengths by adding or removing spring units22.

Because of the shape of the resilient anchoring element 30 the cushioned seat back embodies resiliency up to the convolutions 36, while the reaches 34 are so shaped as to permit the padding to be easily applied thereto and supported in a 15 curved and ornamental configuration.

Fig. 2 illustrates the hooks 56 and 56 as being positioned inside the reaches 46 of the associated spring units 22, while'the transverse reach 44 of each spring unit 22 is bowed inwardly so as to 20 provide recesses 62. The hooks lie within the recesses and are restrained from relative shifting inwardly oi the associated reach 44.

In a coil spring construction it is essential that the coils be so balanced as to resist tilting. A 25 coil constructed as illustrated in Fig. 3 is supported at its bottom at two diametrically opposed points so as to be effectively balanced. The hooks 50 and 56 are so located with respect to their respective coil 52 as to bring the pivotal connection between two connected units 22 directly underneath the coil 52. In this way, the runner l6 will tend to bend at the joints between the units 22 for accommodating distortion of the cushioned seat back. At the same time, the coils 35 52 embody resiliency and cooperate with the jointed structure for accommodating pressure forces applied to the seat back.

The reaches 46 of one spring unit 22 are so related to the same reaches of the adjacent spring 40 unit as to constitute two spaced reaches substantially coextensive in length with the runner Hi. The anchoring means at the ends of the connected spring units 22 are similarly constructed so that the runner is in the nature of two spaced 45 reaches interconnected to provide a jointed structure. This specific arrangement of the parts provides a balanced construction, one in which the coils 52 are effectively supported against tilting in all directions. The reaches 46 are spaced sufllciently far to lend good bracing to the coils 52.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the spring units 22 may be embodied in a seat structure. A portion of a chair is illustrated, which portion comprises legs 64 and interconnecting 55 brace members 88, 68 and 10. The units 22 are interconnected as a runner 12 which has its ends anchored to the braces 88 and 10. One oi. the units 22 has its reaches. terminating in convolutions I4 and extended therebeyond to provide reaches I8 which lie against the vertical face of the brace 10. The reaches 18 are anchored to the brace 10 by stapels I8. A V-shaped element 82 has its bight hooked over a pin 84 anchored in the brace 10, and its ends are bent to provide hooks 86 which are hooked through the convolutions l4.

, Because of the element 82, the reaches 16 are held firmly against the brace 10 while the convolutions I4 embody a desirable degree of resiliency responsive to loads placed on the runner.

The spring unit 22 at the opposite end of the runner is connected with a resilient anchoring element 81 which includes a transverse reach 88 having pivotal connection with the hooks 50 and 58 of the adjacent spring unit 22. The reaches 90 of the anchoring element 81 are provided with convoluted joints 82 and the ends of the reaches opposite the transverse reach 88 are bent to provide hooks 94 which are pivotally connected within metallic loops 96 anchored to the inner face of the brace 88 by screws 98.

A cross bar W0 is provided with ends I02 which hook through the convoluted joints 92 and is bowed at I04 for connection with the hook I06 carried by one end of a tension spring I08. The other end of the tension spring is hooked over a screw IIO anchored in the upper face of the brace 68. The spring I08 yields upon the application of a rod to the spring runner, but the bar I00 tends to brace the convoluted joints 92 in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the anchoring element 81 about its longitudinal axis. The element 81 embodies a high degree of re siliency because of the convoluted joints 92 and also because of the fact that its ends are pivotally connected with the loop 96.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a further modification in the spring runner structure. The runner in this form comprises a single piece of spring wire shaped to provide parallel reaches II2 substantially co-extensive in length with the distance between the back structural members II4 of the seat back. The reaches II2 are bent to provide spaced convolutions 'I I8 and the reaches are bowed outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The upper ends of the reaches II2 terminate in convolutions H8 and anchoring reaches I20 made.

secure by screws I2l.

The lower ends of the reaches I I2 terminate in a transverse reach I22 connected with a hook I24 having its ends looped at I26 for connection 'with the lower structural member II4 by screws I28. The hook I24 is of sufficient length to provide a guide for the reach I22 as it is shifted downwardly when pressure is applied to the cushion structure I80. I provide the hook I24 with convolutions I82 which lend resiliency to the hook. The reaches H8 and I22 are bowed inwardly in the same manner as the reaches 44, which is also true of the reach 88 of Fig. 5. A spring structure according to Figs. 6 and 7 cmbodies a high degree 01 resiliency and the run- -ner comprises relatively few parts in which one end of the runner is so anchored to its supporting structure as to provide accommodation for Shifting incident to flexing of the runner. The upper end of the.runner is arranged with the convolutions II8 arranged in close relation with the upper structural member II4, whereby the spring configuration takes the shape of a structure illustrated in Fig. 1 because of the anchoring element 80.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions or service.

I claim:

1. In a spring structure, a plurality of units each comprising a single 'piece of wire. bent to provide spaced reaches and an interconnecting transverse reach, the spaced reaches of each unit being shaped to provide hooks for the reception of the transverse reach of an adjacent unit, one hook in each unit being extended and bent to provide a coil, the other hook in each spring unit being connected with a lower convolution in its respective coil.

2. In a spring structure, 'a plurality 'of units each comprising a single piece of wire bent to provide spaced reaches and an interconnecting transverse reach, the spaced reaches of each unit being shaped to provide hooks for the reception of the transverse reach of an adjacent unit, one hook in each unit being extended and bent to provide a coil, the other hook in each spring unit being connected with a lower convolution in its respective coil, and anchoring elements movably connected with the hooks of one spring unit all; with the transverse reachof another spring u 3. In a furniture structure, two spaced supporting members, a spring runner comprising a plurality of pivotally connected units each including a coil, an anchoring element fastened to one of said spaced supports and movably connected with one end of the runner, said anchoring element including convoluted joints, a tie wire anchored to its associated support and connected with the convoluted joints, an anchoring element for connecting the other end of the runner with the other of said supports, said anchorin element comprising a link having convoluted joints and one end pivotally connected with the other of said supports, and a spring element connected with the said last named support and the convoluted joints associated with the anchoring element connected with the support.

JOHN PLEET. 

